It has been said that a boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into. That statement can be not more truthful than when applied to off shore racing boats, the mammoth boats that super rich guys race. The one we found is a vintage piece from the early 1980s that was a record setter in its day, packs 3,000hp and the recorded ability to cut through the seas at more than 120mph!
Built in 1983 and measuring out at 46 feet long, the boat is made from aluminum and weighs 18,000lbs. Power comes from three PSI screw blown, 500ci Chevy (we think) engines. Each of the motors is rated for 1,000hp and they were built by noted marine engine builder Keith Eikert. Kinsler fuel injection moves what has to be a massive amount of fuel through the three motors which are made to run at full song, bouncing through 4-8 foot seas at north of 120mph. OOGA BOOGA!
It seems that this beast has been sitting for some time and there’s a bunch of work needed to make her seaworthy again, but damn, it would be one hell of a feeling to go hammer down on all three of those mills out on the ocean. The freaking fuel bill would probably make a Top Fuel team blush a little!
Hit the link to see this bad ass hot rod of the seas!
RacingJunk Find: “Popeye” – A 3,000hp 1983 Off Shore Racing Boat
I think it may have had Ford engines at one point in time. My Moms cousins shop Kinetic Racing engines had some engines they had gotten back from them that were big Fords in the early 90’s